On a steamy and sweltering morning in south Louisiana, the LSU football team officially reported for the start of fall camp. The Tigers checking into the West Campus Apartments Wednesday morning, with their first practice set for Thursday. More >>

On a steamy and sweltering morning in south Louisiana, the LSU football team officially reported for the start of fall camp. The Tigers checking into the West Campus Apartments Wednesday morning, with their first practice set for Thursday. More >>

Leonard Fournette's freshman season got off to a slow start. But after being held to just 18 yards rushing in a season opening win against Wisconsin, Fournette burst into the end zone for a short touchdown run against FCS member Sam Houston State in Tiger Stadium.More >>

Leonard Fournette's freshman season got off to a slow start. But after being held to just 18 yards rushing in a season opening win against Wisconsin, Fournette burst into the end zone for a short touchdown run against FCS member Sam Houston State in Tiger Stadium.More >>

As a Warrick Dunn Player of the Year Award winner, we know Kendell Beckwith possesses both the physical and mental tools to be great on the football field. Now entering his junior year, he said he’s taking his new leadership role on head first. More >>

As a Warrick Dunn Player of the Year Award winner, we know Kendell Beckwith possesses both the physical and mental tools to be great on the football field. Now entering his junior year, he said he’s taking his new leadership role on head first. More >>

TAMPA, FL (WAFB) -

It wasn't
quite the Les Miles-Dabo Swinney hug fest from last year's Chick-fil-A Bowl, but
Miles and Iowa head coach Kirk Farentz certainly did their best to compliment
each other's program and conference when they met prior to the Outback Bowl.

"You'd have
to be blind to college football to not recognize the level of talent and the
level of coaching in the conference," said Farentz. "It's just outstanding."

"When you're
from the Big 10, you really enjoy seeing some of those old helmets that you,
you know, I was fortunate to be on great Michigan teams and prepared for that
conference," Miles added. "The Big 10 Conference is every bit as capable as any
conference in America."

Farentz's
defense was ranked third in the Big 10, allowing just 309 yards per game.
However, it's safe to say the Hawkeyes haven't faced an arsenal of offensive
playmakers like LSU possesses.

"If you
look at them statistically, they're over 200 (yards per game) throwing it and
200 rushing it, so it's a tough team to defend just because of the balance and
the players that they put out there," Farentz explained.

But the Tigers
(9-3), of course, racked up almost all of those numbers with senior quarterback
Zach Mettenberger. Young Anthony Jennings did have that one great cameo, but up
to this point, that's all it's been, one cameo. Is he ready to be the leading
man?

"That's
really the only wild card for us. We don't have much tape on him and we're not
sure what exactly to expect, but I know we can count on a really good player
being back there, a guy who's a leader of their football team," said Farentz.

"The
greatest characteristic of Anthony Jennings is poise. He's always had it. It's
what he does. He did it in the spring of the year when he went by some guys to
be our second team quarterback. I think the confidence of the team, really,
when he went under center, it didn't change a lick," said Miles.

"The job of
any quarterback, regardless of his style or his age, is to move the team and he
moved them in about as extreme circumstances as you can possibly dream up. You
wouldn't put a guy in that situation in a practice, I don't think, and expect
them to do what he did," Farentz added.

Powerful running
back Jeremy hill and his 107 yards per game average may be the best friend Jennings
has on New Year's Day.

"He's a
tremendous football player, very strong, physical. It starts, they block people
up front. They've got big, physical guys up front that allow them to get going,"
said Farentz.

But Iowa
(8-4) has talented senior linebackers that will do their best to make No. 10
uncomfortable from the jump.

"It's a
traditional scheme, but there's nothing traditional about how they play it - physical
and fast, know how to take on blocks. I think the linebacking core, I think the
secondary, certainly the defensive front all play within a very disciplined
concept and it allows them to play at a very high level, no matter who they
play," said Miles.

Kickoff for
the Outback Bowl is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Jan. 1 from Raymond James Stadium
in Tampa.

Florida freshman right-hander Tommy Mace limited LSU to one earned run in seven innings Wednesday night as the Gators edged the Tigers, 4-3, in the second round of the SEC Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Florida freshman right-hander Tommy Mace limited LSU to one earned run in seven innings Wednesday night as the Gators edged the Tigers, 4-3, in the second round of the SEC Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.